480 
NATURE 
[Marcu 14, 190 
New SoutH WALES. 
Royal Society, December 5, 1906. Prof. T. P. Anderson 
Stuart, president, in the chair.—Biblic sPaphy of Australian, 
New Zealand, and South Sea Island lichens (second pape r): 
E. Cheel.—(1) Analysis of a specimen of sea-water from 
Coogee: (2) analysis of the ash of a New South Wales 
seaweed (Ecklonia); (3) analysis of Roman glass from 
Silchester, with special reference to the amount of man- 
ganese and iron present: C. J. White.—Analyses of 
chocolate shale and of tufaceous sandstone, from the 
Narrabeen series: S. G. Walton. In these analyses 
special attention was paid to the determination of smaller 
pieces of the rarer elements.—Gold nuggets from New 
Guinea, showing a concentric structure: Prof. Liversidge. 
These nuggets presented the usual external appearance, 
but when sliced, and etched with 
showed in parts a concentric structure, 
crystalline structure. Out of a very large 
nuggets examined for several years past, these two are the 
only ones which have shown a lamellar structure. Appar- 
ently the layers of gold were deposited within a cavity, in 
the same way as agates are built up by the deposition of 
layers of quartz and chalcedony. ‘The ‘evidence is against 
the successive layers having been deposited around a 
central nucleus. The gold in one was 88-95 per cent. and 
silver 1 per cent., and the other 88.25 per cent. and silver 
1-05 per cent.—The rate of decay of the excited radio- 
activity from the atmosphere in Sydney : S. G. Lusby and 
T. Ewing. The rate of decay of the excited radio-activity 
polished, aqua regia, they 
but no macro- 
number of gold 
in Sydney is found to be practically the same as that 
obtained by Rutherford and Allan for Montreal (Phil. 
Mag., 1902) and by Bumstead in New Haven (Am. Journ. 
Sci., 1904). 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, Marcu 14. 
Rovar Society, at 4.30.—On the Gravitational Stability of the Earth: 
Prof. A. E. H. hove, F.R.S.—The Total Ionisation of Various Gases by 
the a-Rays of Uranium: T. H. Lahy.—On the Ioni-ation of Various Gases 
by the a-, B- and y-Rays: R. TD. Kleeman. —Capillary Electrometer 
Records of the Electrical Changes during the Natural Beat of the Frog’s 
Heart: Prof. F. Gotch, F.R.S. 
Roya InstitTuTION, at 3.—Riolegy ard Progress: Dr. C. W. Saleeby. 
Society oF ARTS, at 4.30.—The City of Madras: Sir James Thomson. 
DSRS CT: Society, at 5.2c.—Fxhikition of a New Calculating 
Machine: W. Evans-Cross.~ On the Reduction of the Factorisation 
of Binary sate and Octans to the Solution of Indeterminate Equa- 
tions of the Secord Degree: Dr. T. Stuart.—Inveriants of the General 
Quadratic Form Modu/o 2: Prof. L. F. Dickson,—On Partial Differ- 
ential Equations of the First Order: J. Brill. 
INstiTuTIon oF EvectRIcaL EnGINFEPS, at 8.—Adjourned discussion: 
The Transmission of Electrical Energy by Direct Current on the Series 
System: J. S. Highfield. 
FRIDAY, Marcu zs. 
Royar INsTiITUTION, at 9.—Problems of Applied Chemistry : 
G. Lunge. 
InsTITUTION OF MFCHANICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Petrol Motor-Omni- 
buses : W. Worby Beaumont. 
SATURDAY, Marcu 16. 
Roya INnstiTuTtION, at 3.—Réntgen, Kathode, and Positive Rays: 
J. J. Thomson, F.R.S. 
Prof. 
Prof. 
MONDAY, Marcu 18. 
Vicrorta INSTITUTE, at 4.20.—Survivals of Primitive Religion amongst 
the People of Asia Minor: Rey. G, E. White. 
TUESDAY Marcu 10. 
RoVAL INSTITUTION, at 5,—The Visual Apparatus of Man and Animals: 
Prof. William Stirling 
INSTITUTION OF CiviL ENGINEERS, 
G. A. Hobson. 
RovaL STATISTICAL SOCIETY. at 5. 
Society oF Arts, at 8.—Oils, Varnishes, 
Painting of Pictures: A. P. Laurie. 
ZCOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
‘MINERALOGICAL Socigty, at 8.—On the Minerals of the Silvermines 
District, co. Tipperary: A. Russell—On Baddeleyite from Ceylon : 
G. S. Blake and Dr. G. F. Herbert Smith.—On the Silver Deposit in the 
Perran Mine, Perranuthnce, Cornwall: F. H. Butler.—Zinciferous 
Tennantite from the Binnerthal: Dr. G. T. Prior and R. H. Solly. 
TaRADAY Society, at 8.—The Potential of Hydrogen liberated from 
Metallic Surfaces: H. Nutton and H. D. Law.—Electrode Potentials in 
Liquid Ammonia: F. M. G. Johnson and N. T. M. Wilsmore.—The 
Impedance of Solutes in Solvents as manifested by Osmotic ‘‘ Pressure ” : 
JAGSAS Rhodin.—The Electrolytic Deposition cf Zinc, using Rotating 
Electrodes, ii. : Dr. T. Slater Price. 
WEDNESDAY, Marcu 20. 
Society oF Arts, at 8.—Smoke Prevention in Factories and Electric 
Supply Stations: J. B. C. Kershaw. 
NO. 1950, VOL. 75 
at 8.—The Victoria Falls Bridge: 
and Mediums used in the 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.—The Vinegar Fly (Drosophila fum 
E. E. Unwin.—The Structure and Life-history of the Holly Fly: 
L. C. Miall, F-R.S., and T. H. ‘Taylor. 
Rovat METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 7.30.—The Exploration of th 
Major B. F. S. Baden- Powell. 
Roya Microscoricat Socigty, at§ —Some South African Tardig 
James Murray.—Z£xhrbition: Specimens of British Mycetozoa: \ © 
Hilton. 
THURSDAY, Marcu 21. 
Roya. InstiruTI0ONn, at 3.—Biology and Progress: Dr. C. W. Salee 
CHEMICAL Socikty, at 8.30.—The Synthesis of Polypeptides: 
Fischer.—Organic Derivatives of Silicon, Part iii., ¢/-Benzylmethyl 
propylsilicane and Experiments on the Resolution of its Sulp 
Derivative: F. S. Kipping-—On the Reduction of Carbon Dioxi 
form Aldehyde in Aqueous Solutions: H. J. H. Fenton.- 
Mechanism of the Rusting of Iron: G. T. Moody.—Some Compounds 
of Guanidine with Sugars, Parti., R. S. Morrell and A. E. Bellars. 
LINNEAN Society, at 8.—On the Origin of Angiosperms: E. A. Newell 
Arber and John Parkin.—xhibitions: Water-colour Sketches of 
Alpine Flowers: Miss Helen Ward.—Photographs of Transvaal Trees 
and Tree Scenery: J. Burtt Davy. 
INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 
8.——Rail Corrugation: 
J. A. Panton. 
FRIDAY, Marcu 22. 
Rovav INSTITUTION, at 9.—Rays of Positive Electricity: Prof. J. J. 
‘Thomson, F R.S. 
PuysicaLt Society, at 5.—Experimental Mathematics: Mr. Pochin.— 
Logarithmic Lazytongs and Lattice Works: 
manometer: Mr. Roberts.—Electrical Conduction produced by heating 
Salts: Mr. Garrett. 
INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, at 8.—A Point in Turbo-Alternator 
Design: F. J. Kean. 
SATURDAY, Marcu 23. 
Mr. Blakesley.—A Micro- 
Royat INstT:TuTION, at 3.—Ré6ntgen, Kathode, and Positive Rays: Prof 
J. Te Bsr F.R.S. 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
Modern Motor Vehicles 3% foo 6 457 
The Solar Research Union . J aes. ee 
| Agricultural Analysis, By A. D. H. 458 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Carslaw: ‘‘Introduction to the Theory of Fourier’s 
Series and Integrals and the Mathematical Theory 
of the Conduction of Heat.”—G. H. H. 459 
Huber: ‘‘Museu Paraense de Historia e Ethno- 
graphia : Arboretum Amazonicum ” 459 
Jepson : “ Cams, and the Principles of their Con- 
struction” 3 Ce ret rer 4 co 
Fricker: “ Rivetage” PPRarr i of Sh cugat ce A Kee 
Letters to the Editor: — 
A New Mud-Volcano Island.—F. R. Mallet .. . 460 
A New Chemical Test for Strength in Wheat.—A. J. 
Banks 460 
Tonisation and Anomalous Dispersion. —G. A. Schott 461 
The Rusting of Iron.—C. E. Stromeyer . ... 461 
A Problem in Chance.—Geo. P. Mudge ..... 461 
The University of the Cape of Good Hope . . 461 
An Anthropologist st the Todas. (Z//usty -ated.) 
By A. E. Crawley . ; - 462 
A Law of Record Times in 1 Racing. “By G. U. ¥. . 463 
Prof. H. W. Bakhuis-Roozeboom. By F. D. 
Chattaway ... mach © «2 (eke 
Notes é PR Te ce 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Discovery of a Comet(1g07a) ......=... =. 469 
Solar Research at Meudon . . sree 400) 
The Markings and Rotation Period of Venus... - 469 
The Electrical Influence of the Sun. . . eA OG) 
Recently Discovered Asteroids —. Remon o3 gh at: 469 
Survey of Scottish Lakes. (///ust) ‘ated.) aco 470 
The Structure of Metals. By Dr. ab A. Ewing, 
F.R.S. : : 4 472 
Forthcoming Books of Science ; Je eas 
University and Educational Intelligence 3 fon. Yin 
Societies'and Academies) . 2.5. 2: 2 ea 
DiarywiofiSiocreties:” 5) 29 © cies epee) (os ole AOD 
SUPPLEMENT. 
Virchow’s Letters to His Parents, By A. K. . . iii 
Inorganic Chemistry. By Prof. Arthur Smithells, 
aR ee 56 Si vc ah ie oe ae iv 
Geography for Schools. By Geo. G. Chisholm, . v 
Photography for College Students. ByC.J. .. vi 
The Fauna of the Tay District. By R. L. vii 
Geodetical Tables 4 ae! 5 vill 
The Central Nervous System. PY Prof, J. is 
Macdonald . 3 ix 
Partial Differential Equations. ‘By G. B. M. auch x 
